For Teachers 

Here is the letter I wrote to highly qualified teachers, through out my career, asking them to share their valuable insight, in hope of helping parents better understand their needs.

Dear Teachers & Educators,

If there was one thing you could change about the parent – child – relationship, what would it be? And if you could change something in the way a parent deals with their child, what would it be?

Teachers, here is your chance to add your valuable insight to the Teachers’ Wish List! Add your wish and I will post it along with your name and title.

Teachers’ Wish List

I wish parents could understand that if they knew what their child was learning or doing at school, it would give their child a better opportunity for success, especially the child who is having a hard time with a certain subject.

I wish parents would offer to help their child’s teacher once in a while. Does the teacher need supplies, or how can I help my child in your class?

I wish parents would talk to their children more about leaving them at school instead of just dropping them off. Children need to understand why their parents are leaving, when they’ll return, and to be assured that they’ll return on time.

I wish parents would understand school is a lot more than just academic education. It’s socializing, it’s creating friendships, it’s learning how to follow rules, it’s so many things. So for you not to be a big part of that causes us concern.

I wish parents would be consistent with the discipline they give their children. Both parents should be on the same page.

I wish parents gave their children a strict bedtime. It’s important for them to be well rested.

I wish parents would ask about my teaching and discipline techniques and use those with their children at home.

I wish parents would let the teachers know if there is anything unusual going on at home so the teachers can be prepared for any different behavior from the children.

I wish parents would take criticism of their children well and understand that the teachers are only trying to make better humans of their children.

I wish parents would push their children to do better.

I wish parents would understand that having a well-disciplined child is just as important as, or more important than, having a smart child.

I wish parents would help their children be more independent. For example, they should begin to dress themselves and clean up after themselves no later than three years of age.

Parents, you can see that these teachers and I believe that most teachers want to give each child as much attention and love as they can. They need all the help you can give them and that help comes from your consistent, patient, encouraging parenting.

Let’s work together to help our children do better in school. This insight can help you help us help them. Now that you have these wishes don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Please add your wish at the bottom of this page:

My Attitude as I Work with Children

The following sentences and phrases come from a different perspective: they are what I say to myself as I’m working with children.  These words didn’t just come to me. As I observed over one hundred teachers I learned what concepts, words, and actions worked to keep children safe, and moving forward.

The following statements are the foundations for my approach to the children in my care.  I’ve been saying them so long; they are always in my mind.  Why? Because they help me stay calm, remind me what I am doing, why I am getting involved, and maybe most importantly they take a lot of the guesswork out of a situation.

Classroom Experiences

Everything changed when I began to use The Power which, at its heart, is a method of speaking and listening to children, and paying attention to their feelings instead of my own.

All of the word patterns and all of the support I try to give children are through teaching, and when you’re teaching a child it is hard to feel guilty.

When I have a child who is scared, I calm them down by using words like these: “You don’t have to be scared of me,” “I didn’t mean to scare you,” “Use your words to tell me what is wrong.” Or I will give them a hug while saying these words to try to calm them.

Why do children keep repeating the action you want them to stop? Because they generally don’t understand your intentions or way of thinking.

A hug or apology is the backbone of almost everything I do in my classroom.

Children may act out for a variety of reasons, but the one I never find on the list is they are doing it on purpose because they want to be bad or cause you to get upset.  

Children’s Currency is not money. It is whatever is valuable to the child.  

An apology and a hug can go a long way to bringing a child back under your control.

If I respect them first and hold myself to a higher standard (meaning pay attention, not punish too long, help them gain a voice, see me take the lead, and lead by example) each child gets the comfort to be a child and starts to learn through respect and kindness.  

It is not okay for a child to cry more than a few minutes. If this happens, it means they are uncomfortable, are not learning from the experience, and will not be willing to comply.
 
Please add your wish or classroom experience here: